Democratic appropriators push DHS on purchase of a dozen planes, including ‘luxury jets’

Rebecca Beitsch Thu, August 13, 2026 at 8:17 PM UTC

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Senate Democratic appropriators are questioning Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin over the purchase of 12 new planes, including five “extravagant new luxury jets” that have been used by FBI Director Kash Patel and border czar Tom Homan.

“These jets were acquired and provided for officials’ use, even though no authorization was ever provided by Congress to buy any airplanes, much less to support executive travel,” Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) wrote in a letter to Mullin with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).

The letter demands all purchasing details, flight logs and cost analyses related to the planes.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been pushing to expand its fleet of jets since Mullin’s predecessor Kristi Noem pushed for a new pair of planes on behalf of the Coast Guard to shepherd herself and other officials.

In its accounting of the dozen new aircraft, which includes the planes bought by Noem, lawmakers describe an additional two aircraft purchased with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) funding as “Gulfstream G650 luxury business jets.”

“One of the G650s has already been leased to the FBI for 12 months to support Director Patel’s travel—despite the fact that the FBI already has its own jets to support the Director’s travel. The other G650 is currently being retrofitted for deployment to support Border Czar Homan and undisclosed DHS officials’ travel, according to the Department,” they wrote.

The FBI already has a jet for its director, who for security reasons is required to use that plane for both professional and personal travel. Patel has already come under significant scrutiny for his use of that jet, taking trips to sporting events and to visit his girlfriend.

The FBI said the lease on one of the bureau’s jets was expiring “and this is a significantly lower cost to obtain a replacement from our partners.”

“The primary purpose of any government aircraft utilized by FBI is to service the mission needs – including evidence transport, critical incident response, hostage rescue operations, and Foreign Transfers of Custody,” the bureau said in a statement.

“The director, who is prohibited from flying commercial, utilizes available government aircraft after mission requirements are met.”

The funding for the planes was pulled from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, though the lawmakers said that package did not include “the necessary legal authorization for DHS to purchase these planes, much less run a private jet service for government executives.”

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Murray and Murphy say DHS has also acquired a Boeing 737-8 MAX business jet that comes “fully equipped with a bedroom and other luxury amenities like a shower, kitchen, bar, and flatscreen TVs—amenities that even Air Force Two lacks. Despite these features, the DHS claimed the jet would “serve dual missions—both as ICE deportation flights and for cabinet-level travel.”

The lawmakers say the bedroom has now been removed, but that jet is on loan to the Department of Defense.

DHS defended the purchase of all the planes as being bought under Noem.

“These planes were purchased prior to Secretary Mullin’s arrival at DHS. Since taking office, DHS has worked with the aviation industry and interagency partners to ensure the Department places these aircraft in service responsibly,” the agency said in a statement.

“ICE has contracts in place for ensuring it is capable of delivering on its mission to the President and the American people,” the agency continued. “In addition to options available under existing contracts, ICE has a robust federal acquisition program in place to expand or change to meet the needs of the agency. Aircraft are currently undergoing maintenance and safety checks as well as any necessary make-ready modifications to meet the need of the deportation mission.”

Also purchased were seven Boeing 737s that can seat up to 200 passengers. The committee claimed DHS said that four of the jets would support congressional delegations — trips lawmakers take to review government activities, often during recess — while three would be used for deportations.

“This administration has lit taxpayer dollars on fire by acquiring new and unnecessary planes to jet Trump officials around in extreme luxury that the vast majority of Americans will never experience,” the lawmakers wrote.

“Americans’ tax dollars should not be wasted on lavish new jets to shuttle DHS officials, the FBI director, and an undisclosed number of other Trump officials and family members around the globe in extraordinary comfort.”

at 4:16 p.m. EDT.

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